Former Cincinnati Bearcats standout Lance Stephenson had his $4.3 million team option declined by the Indiana Pacers, making him a free agent, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard announced Monday.

"This was a very difficult decision, but as free agency begins on July 1, we want to have flexibility so that we can prepare for all of our available options," Pritchard said per NBA.com.

Stephenson has played for six different NBA teams, but has spent six seasons - from 2010-14 and again from 2016-18 - of his eight-season NBA career with the Pacers.

In the Pacers' final regular-season game, Stephenson executed an impressive blocked shot of the Hornets' Dwight Howard from behind. But he celebrated instead of going after the ball, and Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was right there for an uncontested dunk.